Anyone done a DIY conversion to RemAge barrel change

[skypilot]

I considering the task of swapping from a Rem 700 Left Hand SA .308 to a RemAge barrel nut conversion 6.5 CM barrel.
I can't find a LH Rem 700 in a 6.5 CM.

All to be placed in a new, yet to be determined stock or chassis for PRS, local target shooting and coyotes.

I know the tools needed, just need to hear thoughts and experiences doing this rather than trying to find a shop and sending everything to a shop.
(I sold my lathe last year) So it would need to be a true drop in job.

Anyone done this? Any advice on access to parts like barrels, recoil lugs, wrenches, etc?

I'm in ON currently.

 

[Ron AKA]

I considering the task of swapping from a Rem 700 Left Hand SA .308 to a RemAge barrel nut conversion 6.5 CM barrel.
I can't find a LH Rem 700 in a 6.5 CM.
All to be placed in a new, yet to be determined stock or chassis for PRS, local target shooting and coyotes.
I know the tools needed, just need to hear thoughts and experiences doing this rather than trying to find a shop and sending everything to a shop.
(I sold my lathe last year) So it would need to be a true drop in job.
Anyone done this? Any advice on access to parts like barrels, recoil lugs, wrenches, etc?

I have a REMAGE McGowen barrel on order from Jerry Teo at Mystic Precision. I will put it in a Remington 700 long action that currently has a 24" .264 WM original factory barrel in it. The new barrel will be a 28" 6.5 Remington Magnum. Jerry can get the Savage wrench needed for the nut. Suspect Jerry can get recoil lugs too if you want to go thicker, etc. PTG make them. The barrel is months away, but what have I learned so far?

The REMAGE finished diameter is 1.060" or so. No point in looking at contours on the barrel that are fatter than that.

I expect the hardest part of the whole job will be getting the old barrel off, especially if it is original.

Assuming the barrel is built to fit a Rem 700 all should be fine after the barrel is out. You have to decide on how to attach the recoil lug so it stays put when you are screwing on the barrel and setting headspace. Normal practice is to use one or two pins, but I really don't have the equipment to locate them precisely. Some cut a slot in the receiver and use one pin, but I don't like the sound of that. My plan at this point is to lap the recoil plate to the receiver, and then "glue" it in place with high strength Locktite, using the REMAGE nut to hold it while the Locktite sets up. The trick is to get it vertical so you can get the thing out of the Devcon assuming you bed the action. I will also grind a taper on the recoil lug to promote the lug release from the Devcon.

That is about it so far. My more difficult issue is getting set up to reload the orphan 6.5 RM.

If you have not seen it, here is an article on a REMAGE conversion of a Remington 700.

 

[skypilot]

I have a REMAGE McGowen barrel on order from Jerry Teo at Mystic Precision. I will put it in a Remington 700 long action that currently has a 24" .264 WM original factory barrel in it. The new barrel will be a 28" 6.5 Remington Magnum. Jerry can get the Savage wrench needed for the nut. Suspect Jerry can get recoil lugs too if you want to go thicker, etc. PTG make them. The barrel is months away, but what have I learned so far?

The REMAGE finished diameter is 1.060" or so. No point in looking at contours on the barrel that are fatter than that.

I expect the hardest part of the whole job will be getting the old barrel off, especially if it is original.

Assuming the barrel is built to fit a Rem 700 all should be fine after the barrel is out. You have to decide on how to attach the recoil lug so it stays put when you are screwing on the barrel and setting headspace. Normal practice is to use one or two pins, but I really don't have the equipment to locate them precisely. Some cut a slot in the receiver and use one pin, but I don't like the sound of that. My plan at this point is to lap the recoil plate to the receiver, and then "glue" it in place with high strength Locktite, using the REMAGE nut to hold it while the Locktite sets up. The trick is to get it vertical so you can get the thing out of the Devcon assuming you bed the action. I will also grind a taper on the recoil lug to promote the lug release from the Devcon.

That is about it so far. My more difficult issue is getting set up to reload the orphan 6.5 RM.

If you have not seen it, here is an article on a REMAGE conversion of a Remington 700.

Thanks, I had not seen that.
On the recoil lug, the action wrench I was looking at purchasing has an adapter for a 2 allen screw jig to attach so the action and recoil lug stay in orientation to one another, then I assume it's just setting the barreled action into the recoil lug channel in the stock/chassis after headspacing.

Here's the action wrench with recoil lug/jig attached.. ht p://northlandshooterssupply.com/tools/

 

[Ron AKA]

Thanks, I had not seen that.
On the recoil lug, the action wrench I was looking at purchasing has an adapter for a 2 allen screw jig to attach so the action and recoil lug stay in orientation to one another, then I assume it's just setting the barreled action into the recoil lug channel in the stock/chassis after headspacing.

Here's the action wrench with recoil lug/jig attached.. ht p://northlandshooterssupply.com/tools/

Thank you for the link. I will look into it. I have not spent a ton a time thinking about the installation. It seems to me that it is worthwhile to put a taper on the recoil lug sides to give it some forgiveness. I suspect that unless I mess up the headspace, it will be a one time installation. Some guys set up to use more than one barrel and do frequent switches. The pins would seem to be a good idea in that case to make installation alignment foolproof. I have no plans to do that.